diff --git a/generate_auto_job b/generate_auto_job
index 2dc51105..556b374c 100755
--- a/generate_auto_job
+++ b/generate_auto_job
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ def warn(*args, **kwargs):
 
 
 class Main:
-    SOURCES = [whoami, 'job.yml']
+    SOURCES = [whoami, 'job.yml', 'manual/cli.rst']
     DESTS = {
         'decl': 'libqpdf/qpdf/auto_job_decl.hh',
         'init': 'libqpdf/qpdf/auto_job_init.hh',
@@ -87,6 +87,88 @@ class Main:
             for k, v in hashes.items():
                 print(f'{k} {v}', file=f)
 
+    def generate_doc(self, df, f):
+        st_top = 0
+        st_topic = 1
+        st_option = 2
+        st_option_help = 3
+        state = st_top
+
+        indent = None
+        topic = None
+        option = None
+        short_text = None
+        long_text = None
+
+        print('this->ap.addHelpFooter("For detailed help, visit'
+              ' the qpdf manual: https://qpdf.readthedocs.io\\n");', file=f)
+
+        def set_indent(x):
+            nonlocal indent
+            indent = ' ' * len(x)
+
+        def append_long_text(line):
+            nonlocal indent, long_text
+            if line == '\n':
+                long_text += '\n'
+            elif line.startswith(indent):
+                long_text += line[len(indent):]
+            else:
+                long_text = long_text.strip()
+                if long_text != '':
+                    long_text += '\n'
+                return True
+            return False
+
+        lineno = 0
+        for line in df.readlines():
+            lineno += 1
+            if state == st_top:
+                m = re.match(r'^(\s*\.\. )help-topic (\S+): (.*)$', line)
+                if m:
+                    set_indent(m.group(1))
+                    topic = m.group(2)
+                    short_text = m.group(3)
+                    long_text = ''
+                    state = st_topic
+                    continue
+                m = re.match(r'^(\s*\.\. )qpdf:option:: (([^=\s]+)(=(\S+))?)$',
+                             line)
+                if m:
+                    if topic is None:
+                        raise Exception('option seen before topic')
+                    set_indent(m.group(1))
+                    option = m.group(3)
+                    synopsis = m.group(2)
+                    if synopsis.endswith('`'):
+                        raise Exception(
+                            f'stray ` at end of option line (line {lineno})')
+                    if synopsis != option:
+                        long_text = synopsis + '\n'
+                    else:
+                        long_text = ''
+                    state = st_option
+                    continue
+            elif state == st_topic:
+                if append_long_text(line):
+                    print(f'this->ap.addHelpTopic("{topic}", "{short_text}",'
+                          f' R"({long_text})");', file=f)
+                    state = st_top
+            elif state == st_option:
+                if line == '\n' or line.startswith(indent):
+                    m = re.match(r'^(\s*\.\. )help: (.*)$', line)
+                    if m:
+                        set_indent(m.group(1))
+                        short_text = m.group(2)
+                        state = st_option_help
+                else:
+                    state = st_top
+            elif state == st_option_help:
+                if append_long_text(line):
+                    print(f'this->ap.addOptionHelp("{option}", "{topic}",'
+                          f' "{short_text}", R"({long_text})");', file=f)
+                    state = st_top
+
     def generate(self):
         warn(f'{whoami}: regenerating auto job files')
 
@@ -230,6 +312,8 @@ class Main:
             for j in ft['options']:
                 print('this->ap.copyFromOtherTable'
                       f'("{j}", "{other_table}");', file=f)
+        with open('manual/cli.rst', 'r') as df:
+            self.generate_doc(df, f)
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
diff --git a/include/qpdf/QPDFArgParser.hh b/include/qpdf/QPDFArgParser.hh
index ea51ca67..12ade54b 100644
--- a/include/qpdf/QPDFArgParser.hh
+++ b/include/qpdf/QPDFArgParser.hh
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 #include <vector>
 #include <functional>
 #include <stdexcept>
+#include <sstream>
 
 // This is not a general-purpose argument parser. It is tightly
 // crafted to work with qpdf. qpdf's command-line syntax is very
@@ -38,7 +39,10 @@
 // backward compatibility to ensure we don't break what constitutes a
 // valid command. This class handles the quirks of qpdf's argument
 // parsing, bash/zsh completion, and support for @argfile to read
-// arguments from a file.
+// arguments from a file. For the qpdf CLI, setup of QPDFArgParser is
+// done mostly by automatically-generated code (one-off code for
+// qpdf), though the handlers themselves are hand-coded. See
+// generate_auto_job at the top of the source tree for details.
 
 // Note about memory: there is code that expects argv to be a char*[],
 // meaning that arguments are writable. Several operations, including
@@ -119,6 +123,13 @@ class QPDFArgParser
         std::string const& arg, param_arg_handler_t,
         bool required, char const** choices);
 
+    // The default behavior when an invalid choice is specified with
+    // an option that takes choices is to list all the choices. This
+    // may not be good if there are too many choices, so you can
+    // provide your own handler in this case.
+    QPDF_DLL
+    void addInvalidChoiceHandler(std::string const& arg, param_arg_handler_t);
+
     // If an option is shared among multiple tables and uses identical
     // handlers, you can just copy it instead of repeating the
     // registration call.
@@ -131,6 +142,67 @@ class QPDFArgParser
     QPDF_DLL
     void addFinalCheck(bare_arg_handler_t);
 
+    // Help generation methods
+
+    // Help is available on topics and options. Options may be
+    // associated with topics. Users can run --help, --help=topic, or
+    // --help=--arg to get help. The top-level help tells the user how
+    // to run help and lists available topics. Help for a topic prints
+    // a short synopsis about the topic and lists any options that may
+    // be associated with the topic. Help for an option provides a
+    // short synopsis for that option. All help output is appended
+    // with a blurb (if supplied) directing the user to the full
+    // documentation. Help is not shown for options for which help has
+    // not been added. This makes it possible to have undocumented
+    // options for testing, backward-compatibility, etc. Also, it
+    // could be quite confusing to handle appropriate help for some
+    // inner options that may be repeated with different semantics
+    // inside different option tables. There is also no checking for
+    // whether an option that has help actually exists. In other
+    // words, it's up to the caller to ensure that help actually
+    // corresponds to the program's actual options. Rather than this
+    // being an intentional design decision, it is because this class
+    // is specifically for qpdf, qpdf generates its help and has other
+    // means to ensure consistency.
+
+    // Note about newlines:
+    //
+    // short_text should fit easily after the topic/option on the same
+    // line and should not end with a newline. Keep it to around 40 to
+    // 60 characters.
+    //
+    // long_text and footer should end with a single newline. They can
+    // have embedded newlines. Keep lines to under 80 columns.
+    //
+    // QPDFArgParser does reformat the text, but it may add blank
+    // lines in some situations. Following the above conventions will
+    // keep the help looking uniform.
+
+    // If provided, this footer is appended to all help, separated by
+    // a blank line.
+    QPDF_DLL
+    void addHelpFooter(std::string const&);
+
+    // Add a help topic along with the text for that topic
+    QPDF_DLL
+    void addHelpTopic(std::string const& topic,
+                      std::string const& short_text,
+                      std::string const& long_text);
+
+    // Add help for an option, and associate it with a topic.
+    QPDF_DLL
+    void addOptionHelp(std::string const& option_name,
+                       std::string const& topic,
+                       std::string const& short_text,
+                       std::string const& long_text);
+
+    // Return the help text for a topic or option. Passing a null
+    // pointer returns the top-level help information. Passing an
+    // unknown value returns a string directing the user to run the
+    // top-level --help option.
+    QPDF_DLL
+    std::string getHelp(char const* topic_or_option);
+
     // Convenience methods for adding member functions of a class as
     // handlers.
     template <class T>
@@ -171,7 +243,8 @@ class QPDFArgParser
         OptionEntry() :
             parameter_needed(false),
             bare_arg_handler(0),
-            param_arg_handler(0)
+            param_arg_handler(0),
+            invalid_choice_handler(0)
         {
         }
         bool parameter_needed;
@@ -179,9 +252,24 @@ class QPDFArgParser
         std::set<std::string> choices;
         bare_arg_handler_t bare_arg_handler;
         param_arg_handler_t param_arg_handler;
+        param_arg_handler_t invalid_choice_handler;
     };
     typedef std::map<std::string, OptionEntry> option_table_t;
 
+    struct HelpTopic
+    {
+        HelpTopic() = default;
+        HelpTopic(std::string const& short_text, std::string const& long_text) :
+            short_text(short_text),
+            long_text(long_text)
+        {
+        }
+
+        std::string short_text;
+        std::string long_text;
+        std::set<std::string> options;
+    };
+
     OptionEntry& registerArg(std::string const& arg);
 
     void completionCommon(bool zsh);
@@ -189,6 +277,7 @@ class QPDFArgParser
     void argCompletionBash();
     void argCompletionZsh();
     void argHelp(char*);
+    void invalidHelpArg(char*);
 
     void checkCompletion();
     void handleArgFileArguments();
@@ -202,6 +291,11 @@ class QPDFArgParser
         option_table_t&, std::string const&, std::string const&);
     void handleCompletion();
 
+    void getTopHelp(std::ostringstream&);
+    void getAllHelp(std::ostringstream&);
+    void getTopicHelp(
+        std::string const& name, HelpTopic const&, std::ostringstream&);
+
     class Members
     {
         friend class QPDFArgParser;
@@ -235,6 +329,9 @@ class QPDFArgParser
         std::vector<PointerHolder<char>> bash_argv;
         PointerHolder<char*> argv_ph;
         PointerHolder<char*> bash_argv_ph;
+        std::map<std::string, HelpTopic> help_topics;
+        std::map<std::string, HelpTopic> option_help;
+        std::string help_footer;
     };
     PointerHolder<Members> m;
 };
diff --git a/job.sums b/job.sums
index 14c948c7..b70547b8 100644
--- a/job.sums
+++ b/job.sums
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Generated by generate_auto_job
-generate_auto_job 019081046f1bc19f498134eae00344ecfc65b4e52442ee5f1bc80bff99689443
+generate_auto_job 1f42fc554778d95210d11c44e858214b4854ead907d1c9ea84fe37f993ea1a23
 job.yml 25c85cba1ae01dac9cd0f9cb7b734e7e3e531c0023ea2b892dc0d40bda1c1146
 libqpdf/qpdf/auto_job_decl.hh 97395ecbe590b23ae04d6cce2080dbd0e998917ff5eeaa5c6aafa91041d3cd6a
-libqpdf/qpdf/auto_job_init.hh 465bf46769559ceb77110d1b9d3293ba9b3595850b49848c31aeabd10aadb4ad
+libqpdf/qpdf/auto_job_init.hh 2afffb5002ff28a3909f709709f65d77bf2289dd72d5ea3d1598a36664a49c73
+manual/cli.rst f0109cca3366a9da4b0a05e3cce996ece2d776321a3f689aeaa2d6af599eee88
diff --git a/libqpdf/QPDFArgParser.cc b/libqpdf/QPDFArgParser.cc
index f32b8759..69a97a5c 100644
--- a/libqpdf/QPDFArgParser.cc
+++ b/libqpdf/QPDFArgParser.cc
@@ -36,12 +36,15 @@ QPDFArgParser::QPDFArgParser(int argc, char* argv[], char const* progname_env) :
 {
     selectHelpOptionTable();
     char const* help_choices[] = {"all", 0};
+    // More help choices are added dynamically.
     addChoices(
         "help", bindParam(&QPDFArgParser::argHelp, this), false, help_choices);
+    addInvalidChoiceHandler(
+        "help", bindParam(&QPDFArgParser::invalidHelpArg, this));
     addBare("completion-bash",
-            std::bind(std::mem_fn(&QPDFArgParser::argCompletionBash), this));
+            bindBare(&QPDFArgParser::argCompletionBash, this));
     addBare("completion-zsh",
-            std::bind(std::mem_fn(&QPDFArgParser::argCompletionZsh), this));
+            bindBare(&QPDFArgParser::argCompletionZsh, this));
     selectMainOptionTable();
 }
 
@@ -157,6 +160,22 @@ QPDFArgParser::addChoices(
     }
 }
 
+void
+QPDFArgParser::addInvalidChoiceHandler(
+    std::string const& arg, param_arg_handler_t handler)
+{
+    auto i = this->m->option_table->find(arg);
+    if (i == this->m->option_table->end())
+    {
+        QTC::TC("libtests", "QPDFArgParser invalid choice handler to unknown");
+        throw std::logic_error(
+            "QPDFArgParser: attempt to add invalid choice handler"
+            " to unknown argument");
+    }
+    auto& oe = i->second;
+    oe.invalid_choice_handler = handler;
+}
+
 void
 QPDFArgParser::copyFromOtherTable(std::string const& arg,
                                   std::string const& other_table)
@@ -258,9 +277,17 @@ QPDFArgParser::argCompletionZsh()
 }
 
 void
-QPDFArgParser::argHelp(char*)
+QPDFArgParser::argHelp(char* p)
 {
-    // QXXXQ
+    std::cout << getHelp(p);
+    exit(0);
+}
+
+void
+QPDFArgParser::invalidHelpArg(char* p)
+{
+    usage(std::string("unknown help option") +
+          (p ? (std::string(" ") + p) : ""));
 }
 
 void
@@ -640,7 +667,14 @@ QPDFArgParser::parseArgs()
         {
             std::string message =
                 "--" + arg_s + " must be given as --" + arg_s + "=";
-            if (! oe.choices.empty())
+            if (oe.invalid_choice_handler)
+            {
+                oe.invalid_choice_handler(parameter);
+                // Method should call usage() or exit. Just in case it
+                // doesn't...
+                message += "option";
+            }
+            else if (! oe.choices.empty())
             {
                 QTC::TC("libtests", "QPDFArgParser required choices");
                 message += "{";
@@ -844,3 +878,166 @@ QPDFArgParser::handleCompletion()
     }
     exit(0);
 }
+
+void
+QPDFArgParser::addHelpFooter(std::string const& text)
+{
+    this->m->help_footer = "\n" + text;
+}
+
+void
+QPDFArgParser::addHelpTopic(std::string const& topic,
+                            std::string const& short_text,
+                            std::string const& long_text)
+{
+    if (topic == "all")
+    {
+        QTC::TC("libtests", "QPDFArgParser add reserved help topic");
+        throw std::logic_error(
+            "QPDFArgParser: can't register reserved help topic " + topic);
+    }
+    if (! ((topic.length() > 0) && (topic.at(0) != '-')))
+    {
+        QTC::TC("libtests", "QPDFArgParser bad topic for help");
+        throw std::logic_error(
+            "QPDFArgParser: help topics must not start with -");
+    }
+    if (this->m->help_topics.count(topic))
+    {
+        QTC::TC("libtests", "QPDFArgParser add existing topic");
+        throw std::logic_error(
+            "QPDFArgParser: topic " + topic + " has already been added");
+    }
+
+    this->m->help_topics[topic] = HelpTopic(short_text, long_text);
+    this->m->help_option_table["help"].choices.insert(topic);
+}
+
+void
+QPDFArgParser::addOptionHelp(std::string const& option_name,
+                             std::string const& topic,
+                             std::string const& short_text,
+                             std::string const& long_text)
+{
+    if (! ((option_name.length() > 2) &&
+           (option_name.at(0) == '-') &&
+           (option_name.at(1) == '-')))
+    {
+        QTC::TC("libtests", "QPDFArgParser bad option for help");
+        throw std::logic_error(
+            "QPDFArgParser: options for help must start with --");
+    }
+    if (this->m->option_help.count(option_name))
+    {
+        QTC::TC("libtests", "QPDFArgParser duplicate option help");
+        throw std::logic_error(
+            "QPDFArgParser: option " + option_name + " already has help");
+    }
+    auto ht = this->m->help_topics.find(topic);
+    if (ht == this->m->help_topics.end())
+    {
+        QTC::TC("libtests", "QPDFArgParser add to unknown topic");
+        throw std::logic_error(
+            "QPDFArgParser: unable to add option " + option_name +
+            " to unknown help topic " + topic);
+    }
+    this->m->option_help[option_name] = HelpTopic(short_text, long_text);
+    ht->second.options.insert(option_name);
+    this->m->help_option_table["help"].choices.insert(option_name);
+}
+
+void
+QPDFArgParser::getTopHelp(std::ostringstream& msg)
+{
+    msg << "Run \"" << this->m->whoami
+        << " --help=topic\" for help on a topic." << std::endl
+        << "Run \"" << this->m->whoami
+        << " --help=option\" for help on an option." << std::endl
+        << "Run \"" << this->m->whoami
+        << " --help=all\" to see all available help." << std::endl
+        << std::endl
+        << "Topics:" << std::endl;
+    for (auto const& i: this->m->help_topics)
+    {
+        msg << "  " << i.first << ": " << i.second.short_text << std::endl;
+    }
+}
+
+void
+QPDFArgParser::getAllHelp(std::ostringstream& msg)
+{
+    getTopHelp(msg);
+    auto show = [this, &msg](std::map<std::string, HelpTopic>& topics,
+                             std::string const& label) {
+        for (auto const& i: topics)
+        {
+            auto const& topic = i.first;
+            msg << std::endl
+                << "== " << label << " " << topic
+                << " (" << i.second.short_text << ") =="
+                << std::endl
+                << std::endl;
+            getTopicHelp(topic, i.second, msg);
+        }
+    };
+    show(this->m->help_topics, "topic");
+    show(this->m->option_help, "option");
+    msg << std::endl << "====" << std::endl;
+}
+
+void
+QPDFArgParser::getTopicHelp(std::string const& name,
+                            HelpTopic const& ht,
+                            std::ostringstream& msg)
+{
+    if (ht.long_text.empty())
+    {
+        msg << ht.short_text << std::endl;
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        msg << ht.long_text;
+    }
+    if (! ht.options.empty())
+    {
+        msg << std::endl << "Related options:" << std::endl;
+        for (auto const& i: ht.options)
+        {
+            msg << "  " << i << ": "
+                << this->m->option_help[i].short_text << std::endl;
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+std::string
+QPDFArgParser::getHelp(char const* topic_or_option)
+{
+    std::ostringstream msg;
+    if ((topic_or_option == nullptr) || (strlen(topic_or_option) == 0))
+    {
+        getTopHelp(msg);
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        std::string arg(topic_or_option);
+        if (arg == "all")
+        {
+            getAllHelp(msg);
+        }
+        else if (this->m->option_help.count(arg))
+        {
+            getTopicHelp(arg, this->m->option_help[arg], msg);
+        }
+        else if (this->m->help_topics.count(arg))
+        {
+            getTopicHelp(arg, this->m->help_topics[arg], msg);
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            // should not be possible
+            getTopHelp(msg);
+        }
+    }
+    msg << this->m->help_footer;
+    return msg.str();
+}
diff --git a/libqpdf/qpdf/auto_job_init.hh b/libqpdf/qpdf/auto_job_init.hh
index 3d7cdd7b..b19b2cc9 100644
--- a/libqpdf/qpdf/auto_job_init.hh
+++ b/libqpdf/qpdf/auto_job_init.hh
@@ -162,3 +162,4 @@ this->ap.copyFromOtherTable("annotate", "128-bit encryption");
 this->ap.copyFromOtherTable("form", "128-bit encryption");
 this->ap.copyFromOtherTable("modify-other", "128-bit encryption");
 this->ap.copyFromOtherTable("modify", "128-bit encryption");
+this->ap.addHelpFooter("For detailed help, visit the qpdf manual: https://qpdf.readthedocs.io\n");
diff --git a/libtests/arg_parser.cc b/libtests/arg_parser.cc
index 3da0206e..340bd8d4 100644
--- a/libtests/arg_parser.cc
+++ b/libtests/arg_parser.cc
@@ -68,6 +68,18 @@ ArgParser::initOptions()
     ap.addBare("sheep", [this](){ this->ap.selectOptionTable("sheep"); });
     ap.registerOptionTable("sheep", nullptr);
     ap.copyFromOtherTable("ewe", "baaa");
+
+    ap.addHelpFooter("For more help, read the manual.\n");
+    ap.addHelpTopic(
+        "quack", "Quack Options",
+        "Just put stuff after quack to get a count at the end.\n");
+    ap.addHelpTopic(
+        "baaa", "Baaa Options",
+        "Ewe can do sheepish things.\n"
+        "For example, ewe can add more ram to your computer.\n");
+    ap.addOptionHelp("--ewe", "baaa",
+                     "just for ewe", "You are not a ewe.\n");
+    ap.addOptionHelp("--ram", "baaa", "curly horns", "");
 }
 
 void
@@ -152,62 +164,60 @@ ArgParser::finalChecks()
 void
 ArgParser::test_exceptions()
 {
-    try
-    {
+    auto err = [](char const* msg, std::function<void()> fn) {
+        try
+        {
+            fn();
+            assert(msg == nullptr);
+        }
+        catch (std::exception& e)
+        {
+            std::cout << msg << ": " << e.what() << std::endl;
+        }
+    };
+
+    err("duplicate handler", [this]() {
         ap.selectMainOptionTable();
         ap.addBare("potato", [](){});
-        assert(false);
-    }
-    catch (std::exception& e)
-    {
-        std::cout << "duplicate handler: " << e.what() << std::endl;
-    }
-    try
-    {
+    });
+    err("duplicate handler", [this]() {
         ap.selectOptionTable("baaa");
         ap.addBare("ram", [](){});
-        assert(false);
-    }
-    catch (std::exception& e)
-    {
-        std::cout << "duplicate handler: " << e.what() << std::endl;
-    }
-    try
-    {
+    });
+    err("duplicate table", [this]() {
         ap.registerOptionTable("baaa", nullptr);
-        assert(false);
-    }
-    catch (std::exception& e)
-    {
-        std::cout << "duplicate table: " << e.what() << std::endl;
-    }
-    try
-    {
+    });
+    err("unknown table", [this]() {
         ap.selectOptionTable("aardvark");
-        assert(false);
-    }
-    catch (std::exception& e)
-    {
-        std::cout << "unknown table: " << e.what() << std::endl;
-    }
-    try
-    {
+    });
+    err("copy from unknown table", [this]() {
         ap.copyFromOtherTable("one", "two");
-        assert(false);
-    }
-    catch (std::exception& e)
-    {
-        std::cout << "copy from unknown table: " << e.what() << std::endl;
-    }
-    try
-    {
+    });
+    err("copy unknown from other table", [this]() {
         ap.copyFromOtherTable("two", "baaa");
-        assert(false);
-    }
-    catch (std::exception& e)
-    {
-        std::cout << "copy unknown from other table: " << e.what() << std::endl;
-    }
+    });
+    err("add existing help topic", [this]() {
+        ap.addHelpTopic("baaa", "potato", "salad");
+    });
+    err("add reserved help topic", [this]() {
+        ap.addHelpTopic("all", "potato", "salad");
+    });
+    err("add to unknown topic", [this]() {
+        ap.addOptionHelp("--new", "oops", "potato", "salad");
+    });
+    err("bad option for help", [this]() {
+        ap.addOptionHelp("nodash", "baaa", "potato", "salad");
+    });
+    err("bad topic for help", [this]() {
+        ap.addHelpTopic("--dashes", "potato", "salad");
+    });
+    err("duplicate option help", [this]() {
+        ap.addOptionHelp("--ewe", "baaa", "potato", "salad");
+    });
+    err("invalid choice handler to unknown", [this]() {
+        ap.addInvalidChoiceHandler(
+            "elephant", [](char*){});
+    });
 }
 
 int main(int argc, char* argv[])
diff --git a/libtests/libtests.testcov b/libtests/libtests.testcov
index 69573ab0..70aae578 100644
--- a/libtests/libtests.testcov
+++ b/libtests/libtests.testcov
@@ -54,3 +54,10 @@ QPDFArgParser unrecognized 0
 QPDFArgParser complete choices 0
 QPDFArgParser copy from unknown 0
 QPDFArgParser copy unknown 0
+QPDFArgParser add reserved help topic 0
+QPDFArgParser add existing topic 0
+QPDFArgParser add to unknown topic 0
+QPDFArgParser duplicate option help 0
+QPDFArgParser bad option for help 0
+QPDFArgParser bad topic for help 0
+QPDFArgParser invalid choice handler to unknown 0
diff --git a/libtests/qtest/arg_parser.test b/libtests/qtest/arg_parser.test
index 1d24d507..5079289a 100644
--- a/libtests/qtest/arg_parser.test
+++ b/libtests/qtest/arg_parser.test
@@ -101,4 +101,30 @@ $td->runtest("args from stdin",
              {$td->FILE => "stdin.out", $td->EXIT_STATUS => 0},
              $td->NORMALIZE_NEWLINES);
 
-$td->report(2 + (2 * scalar(@completion_tests)) + scalar(@arg_tests));
+my @help_tests = (
+    '',
+    '=all',
+    '=--ewe',
+    '=quack',
+    );
+foreach my $i (@help_tests)
+{
+    my $out = $i;
+    $out =~ s/[=-]//g;
+    if ($out ne '')
+    {
+        $out = "-$out";
+    }
+    $td->runtest("--help$i",
+                 {$td->COMMAND => "arg_parser --help$i"},
+                 {$td->FILE => "help$out.out", $td->EXIT_STATUS => 0},
+                 $td->NORMALIZE_NEWLINES);
+}
+
+$td->runtest("bad help option",
+             {$td->COMMAND => 'arg_parser --help=--oops'},
+             {$td->FILE => "help-bad.out", $td->EXIT_STATUS => 2},
+             $td->NORMALIZE_NEWLINES);
+
+$td->report(3 + (2 * scalar(@completion_tests)) +
+            scalar(@arg_tests) + scalar(@help_tests));
diff --git a/libtests/qtest/arg_parser/completion-top-arg-zsh.out b/libtests/qtest/arg_parser/completion-top-arg-zsh.out
index 5a500d38..5c159957 100644
--- a/libtests/qtest/arg_parser/completion-top-arg-zsh.out
+++ b/libtests/qtest/arg_parser/completion-top-arg-zsh.out
@@ -2,7 +2,9 @@
 --completion-zsh
 --help
 --help=
+--help=--ewe
 --help=all
+--help=quack
 --moo
 --moo=
 --oink=
diff --git a/libtests/qtest/arg_parser/completion-top-arg.out b/libtests/qtest/arg_parser/completion-top-arg.out
index 4e69efbd..db3d4b0a 100644
--- a/libtests/qtest/arg_parser/completion-top-arg.out
+++ b/libtests/qtest/arg_parser/completion-top-arg.out
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 --baaa
 --completion-zsh
+--help
+--help=
 --moo
 --moo=
 --oink=
diff --git a/libtests/qtest/arg_parser/exceptions.out b/libtests/qtest/arg_parser/exceptions.out
index 82eef2a7..eb8dbe8a 100644
--- a/libtests/qtest/arg_parser/exceptions.out
+++ b/libtests/qtest/arg_parser/exceptions.out
@@ -4,3 +4,10 @@ duplicate table: QPDFArgParser: registering already registered option table baaa
 unknown table: QPDFArgParser: selecting unregistered option table aardvark
 copy from unknown table: QPDFArgParser: attempt to copy from unknown table two
 copy unknown from other table: QPDFArgParser: attempt to copy unknown argument two from table baaa
+add existing help topic: QPDFArgParser: topic baaa has already been added
+add reserved help topic: QPDFArgParser: can't register reserved help topic all
+add to unknown topic: QPDFArgParser: unable to add option --new to unknown help topic oops
+bad option for help: QPDFArgParser: options for help must start with --
+bad topic for help: QPDFArgParser: help topics must not start with -
+duplicate option help: QPDFArgParser: option --ewe already has help
+invalid choice handler to unknown: QPDFArgParser: attempt to add invalid choice handler to unknown argument
diff --git a/libtests/qtest/arg_parser/help-all.out b/libtests/qtest/arg_parser/help-all.out
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..432d4afb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libtests/qtest/arg_parser/help-all.out
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+Run "arg_parser --help=topic" for help on a topic.
+Run "arg_parser --help=option" for help on an option.
+Run "arg_parser --help=all" to see all available help.
+
+Topics:
+  baaa: Baaa Options
+  quack: Quack Options
+
+== topic baaa (Baaa Options) ==
+
+Ewe can do sheepish things.
+For example, ewe can add more ram to your computer.
+
+Related options:
+  --ewe: just for ewe
+  --ram: curly horns
+
+== topic quack (Quack Options) ==
+
+Just put stuff after quack to get a count at the end.
+
+== option --ewe (just for ewe) ==
+
+You are not a ewe.
+
+== option --ram (curly horns) ==
+
+curly horns
+
+====
+
+For more help, read the manual.
diff --git a/libtests/qtest/arg_parser/help-bad.out b/libtests/qtest/arg_parser/help-bad.out
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e9d753b2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libtests/qtest/arg_parser/help-bad.out
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+usage: unknown help option --oops
diff --git a/libtests/qtest/arg_parser/help-ewe.out b/libtests/qtest/arg_parser/help-ewe.out
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7fe4bb0e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libtests/qtest/arg_parser/help-ewe.out
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+You are not a ewe.
+
+For more help, read the manual.
diff --git a/libtests/qtest/arg_parser/help-quack.out b/libtests/qtest/arg_parser/help-quack.out
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b114471e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libtests/qtest/arg_parser/help-quack.out
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+Just put stuff after quack to get a count at the end.
+
+For more help, read the manual.
diff --git a/libtests/qtest/arg_parser/help.out b/libtests/qtest/arg_parser/help.out
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0accbe67
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libtests/qtest/arg_parser/help.out
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+Run "arg_parser --help=topic" for help on a topic.
+Run "arg_parser --help=option" for help on an option.
+Run "arg_parser --help=all" to see all available help.
+
+Topics:
+  baaa: Baaa Options
+  quack: Quack Options
+
+For more help, read the manual.